Roller-skate.



J. H; SHEAHAN.

ROLLER SKATE.

APPLIOATION' FILED APR.28,1910.

1,01 6,447. a Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

A1550 wzgpys AMES H. SHEAHANJOF rnnnrom, ILLINOIS. I

ROLLER-SKATE, i

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 19112 Application filed April as, 1910. Serial No. 55:3,135.

Skates, of which the following is a specification' This invcntlon relates to roller skates, and has for its ob ect to provide a new and 1m- .proved device of this description. 1

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side View showing a skate embodying the. invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the skate shown in Fig. 1, with parts omitted; Fig. 3 is a view showing a modified construction. Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

This invention hasamongother objects to provide a roller skate which can be used with greater safety than the ordinary roller skate, and which will prevent the skater from falling backward when skating or when attem ting to stop.

Re erring-now to the drawings, I have shown a skate having a frame 1, provided with front wheels 2 connected with the frame by the support 3, and rear wheels 4 connected with the frame by the support 5. At the rear of the skate I provide a safety device 6 arranged so as to engage the surface over which the skater is'traveling when the skate tips backward, so as to prevent the skater from falling backward. This safety device may also act as a brake and is preferably adjustable. As shown in Fig. 1 it con sists of a loop, one end of which is connected with the rear portion 7 of the skate, the connection being preferably adjustable. As shown this construction is provided with a set screw 8, by meansof which it may be fastened at different points alon the portion 7 soas to lift or lower the sa ety device to adjust it as desired. The other end of the safety device is connected to the. support 5. The device may be made inoperative when desired, in any suitable manner, as by being. entirely removed. The safetydevice is preferably provided with a rubbing surface 9 adapted to engage the floor when the. skate is tipped up so as to drag therealong and act as a brake. The front wheels" of the skate are provided with some means for preventing their backward movement, but permitting them to move forward freely. As herein shown the front wheels are rotatably mounted upon an axle 10, and are provided with a pawl and ratchet arranged so that the wheels can move forward freely.but are preventedfrom rotating backward. I prefer to place the ratchet 11 on the wheel and the pawl 12 on a stationary part and in a position so that it may be normally held in contact with the teeth of the ratchet by its own weight. Any other arrangement may, of course, be used. This device prevents the skate movingv backward from under the skater so as to reduce the liability of falling forward, while the safety device at the rear of the skate lessens the liability of the skate to move forward from under the user. Danger from accident, therefore, is very greatly reduced. The safety devices at both front and rear are preferably arranged so as to be removed or rendered inoperative when de- I sired. The front safety device may be easily rendered inoperative by simplylifting the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet and holding it out of engagement by means of a pin 13.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a modified construction, wherein the safety device consists of the supporting part 14 to which is adjustably connected an adjustable part 15 which engages the rubbing surface... 9. A look nut 16 is arranged to hold the adjustable part 15 in any desired position.

I claim 1. A roller skate comprising a frame, front and rear wheels connected therewith, a loop at the rear of the frame having its ends connected at two separate points, the middle portion of the loop adapted to engage the surface. upon which the skate is supported when the frame is tilted about the rear wheels.

2. A roller skate comprising a frarne, front and rear wheels connected therewith, a loop at the rear of the frame having its ends con nected at two separated points, the middle portion of the loop adapted to engage the surface upon which the skate is supported when the frame is tilted about the rear wheels, said loop adjustably connected with the frame so that its position may be varied.

'3. A roller skate comprising a frame, front and rear wheels associated therewith, a projecting part associated with the rear wheels and adapted to engage the surface upon which the wheels are supported when the frame is tiltedabout the rear wheels and .from under the user, and-means for rendermeans associated with the front wheels for ing 'said safety devices inoperative when de- 10 preventing backward rotation thereof. sired. M 4

' and rear wheels connected-therewith, safety devices associated with said front and rear -Witnesses:

4. Arol'ler Skate, comprising a frame, front JAMES H a I g N wheels and adapted to reduce the liability MINNIE M. LINonNA of 'the'skate to move forward or backward EDNA K. REYNOLDS.

copies of this patent may. he obtained forfive oentseaoh, by addressing the Commissioner of rltentl.

. Washington, D. 0."- 

